By Ishmail Saidu Kanu
Freetown, 10th November 2025: When the delegates at the Lungi Elections on August 2, 2025, overwhelmingly endorsed Babadi Kamara as President of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), expectations were high. One hundred days later, those expectations are beginning to translate into tangible results: visible reforms, strengthened governance, renewed partnerships, and the rekindling of national pride in football.
President Babadi’s administration, backed by an astute Executive Committee, has demonstrated that leadership in football requires not only passion for the game but also fidelity to law, structure, and accountability. Guided by the enduring principles of accountability, development, and unity, the SLFA under Babadi Kamara has taken a deliberate, methodical approach to administration, an approach rooted in legality and transparency rather than emotion and expediency.
Consistent with the dictates of the SLFA Constitution (2019), the President wasted no time in constituting a Transition Committee pursuant to Article 34(d). Its mandate was to review governance, finance, competitions, staffing, and coordination with oversight bodies, essentially diagnosing the ills that plagued the institution and prescribing remedies to ensure compliance with internal regulations and international football standards.
Institutional renewal began at home. The SLFA Secretariat, once prone to flooding and neglect, is now undergoing a facelift; a physical manifestation of administrative rebirth. The improvements include a modern drainage system, an extended perimeter fence, a paved compound and better security infrastructure, giving life to what had long been a moribund administrative hub.
Equally symbolic of the new era is the human capital transformation. The appointments of Abdul Karim Bangura (AKB) as Leone Stars Team Manager and Elizabeth Alberta Kailey as the first-ever Women’s Football Manager signify the professionalization of football management, a recognition that competence must guide leadership selection.
On the pitch, the results are equally encouraging. For the first time in the Association’s history, championship prize money was paid on the same day the trophy was awarded; an act that restored sponsor confidence and the credibility of football administration. Both the Men’s and Women’s Premier Leagues are resuming with renewed vigor, indicating a return to competitive integrity.
At the grassroots level, President Babadi Kamara’s philosophy that football must serve as a social equalizer has taken shape. The U-17 Girls’ WAFU victory and the integration of football into the national education system through the Football for Schools Project are early dividends of this administration’s focus on youth and development.
Financial probity and strategic diplomacy have also defined this 100-day journey. Through transparent budgeting and persuasive engagement, the SLFA President and his Executive secured a 20% sponsorship increase from Leone Rock Metal Group, raising their Premier League package from $150,000 to $180,000 for the 2025/26 season. Marampa Mines Limited’s $150,000 sponsorship of the Women’s Premier League defined an unprecedented moment for gender equity in our country’s football. Meanwhile, Africell’s pledge to bankroll the FA Cup shows growing corporate confidence in the SLFA’s governance framework.
Internationally, Sierra Leone’s football diplomacy is flourishing. President Babadi’s appointment to the FIFA Commercial and Marketing Advisory Committee, alongside Kweku Lisk’s selection to the FIFA Institutional Relations Committee, illustrates the Association’s renewed global credibility. Participation in key CAF and FIFA meetings in DR Congo, Kenya, and Uganda has repositioned Sierra Leone as a serious player in continental football dialogue.
Domestically, the President’s leadership has been grounded in accessibility and engagement. His outreach to clubs, veterans, and media practitioners is a conscious effort to restore trust and rebuild the football family. His donation of materials to East End Lions and open-door policy with journalists and the public are emblematic of his belief that football thrives on inclusion, not isolation.
On the national front, the Leone Stars have rediscovered their rhythm, securing two victories and one draw in four matches under his watch. Beyond the pitch, fans have felt the difference; free transportation (buses), meals, and official jerseys for the Liberia fixtures created a carnival of unity and national pride.
In a governance ecosystem where credibility has too often been compromised, President Babadi Kamara’s administration stands out for its steadiness to the law. By synchronizing domestic operations with both the SLFA Constitution and FIFA regulatory frameworks, the President has restored legality to leadership and predictability to process.
One hundred days may be too short to judge a presidency, but long enough to discern intent. And from all indications, President Babadi Kamara’s intent is reformative, lawful, and visionary.
In an era where leadership often takes vacations from accountability, the SLFA President appears to be taking none. His first 100 days provide proof that with structure, compliance, and purpose, football in Sierra Leone can finally find its rightful footing.
The next 100 days, by all reasonable expectation, will be a continuation of this renaissance; a journey of results.
Congratulations, Mr. President!
